NO FOREIGNER
IS TO GO BEYOND THE BALUSTRADE
AND THE PLAZA OF THE TEMPLE ZONE
WHOEVER IS CAUGHT DOING SO
WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME
FOR HIS DEATH
WHICH WILL FOLLOW

Yeah, that would make me feel totally awesome. Oh, wait. I mean horrible. I’m reading (and hanging out in) Ephesians and when Paul writes to the Ephesians:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

I’m guessing that may have been tough to accept for some. It’s brought to the forefront in Acts 21:27- Acts 22:29 when Paul defends himself for associating with Greeks. The crowd goes wild (in a non-Sports Night sort of way) and we now know why, in context with the warning sign.

In fact, I’m sure that hearing that Christ broke down the walls separating the groups would be tough. Think about how many things in Christian culture are non-essentials but that we hold onto for dear life (not realizing life that’s been given to us). I know none of us would label it as a wall of hostility, but that’s easy to say on the other side of the wall.

The site Stuff Christians Like (and I would get mad if anyone said all Christians were white people) points out some parts of Christian culture that we could do away with. Most make me crack up, many describe me, and some I facepalm.

People who were at my wedding, did you see the scorecard? How did we do?